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" P. M. ARCHER. GAME APPARATUS.

No. 585,170. Patented June 29,1897.

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NiTnD STATES PATENT FFICE;

FRANK MORTON ARCHER, OF NEW YORK,I N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO SIEGFRIED SILBERBERG, OF SAME PLACE.

GAM E; APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 585,170, dated June 29, 1897.

Application led January 27, 1896. Serial No. 577,085. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that LFRANK MoRToN ARCHER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city and county of New York, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the fol lowing is a specication, such-as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

The object of my invention is to provide a game apparatus of a new and improved form, yet of simple and cheap construct-ion, actuated by coins or counters.

The device of this invention consists, in substance, of a suitable casing, a slotted conduit at the top of the casing for the reception of the coins or counters, means for closing such slot to prevent retracting of the coins after insertion thcreth rough, a tilting or movable bottom for the casing provided with numbered or marked divisions, a coin or counter dellector or distributer between the coin-conduit and the tilting or movable bottom ,a transparent front to the casing, a mirror or reflector within the casing, a screen for screening the numbered or vmarked divisions on the tilting or movable bottom from direct sight, but allowing the reflection thereof in the mirror to be seen, a receptacle below the moving` or tiltin gbottom for receiving the coins or counters upon the dumping of the tilting bottom, and means interposed between the tilting bottom `and the coin or counter receptacle for preventing passage of the coins back to the tilting bottom upon the inversion of the casing, although it is not to be understood that the invention is limited to a device having at one and the same time all the devices and parts mentioned, as the invention consists in the combination and arrangement of certain devices and parts and the construction of certain devices and parts, all as hereinafter more particularly described, set forth, and claimed.

Such apparatus is fully described in the following specication, of which the accompanyin g drawings form a part, wherein similar letters and numerals of reference designate like or equivalent parts wherever found throughout the several views, and in which* Figure l is a front view in elevation of said device. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof in section on lineg/ y of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a top-plan viewof the tilting bottom, and Fig. et is a like View of a modified form of the tilting bottom shown in Fig. 3.

In said drawings, A designates the casing; B, the tilting bottom; C, the coin or counter deilector; D, the mirror or reflector; E, the screen screening from direct view the tilting bottom B; F, the coin or counter receptacle; G, the coin-retaining means between the receptacle and the tilting bottom; II, the coin- `receiving conduit or passage, and I the coinretaining device adjacent to the conduit II.

The receptacle A is formed, preferably, of

wood and of the rectangular shape shown, having a space at the bottom provided with a hinged door l, which space constitutes the coin or counter receptacle F, and such door l,when the machine is intended to be actuated by coins instead of counters and as a public machine, is provided with a lock 2', by which access to the coin-receptacle by the public is made impossible.

Secured in the front of the casing A is a transparent front 2, of glass or other suitable material, through which the interior of the casing A can be viewed, while at the same time access thereto is prevented, and secured to or adjacent to the back of the casing A, preferably so that the top thereof is located forward of the bottom, as shown in Fig. 2, is a mirror or reflector D. Adjacent to the glass front 2 and outside of the same, in the form of the device which is provided with the mirror D, is preferably placed a screen E, which shuts off the direct View of the tilting bottom B, so that when this screen is in place only J[he reflection of such tilting bottom in the mirror D can be seen. The screen E may be of any desired form and may even consist of an upward extension of the frame of the casingA, but is preferably of the form shown, consisting of a thin piece of wood or metal 3, located outside of the glass 2 and between it and a supplemental glass front et, the opening at the top of the supplemental glass et being closed by a suitable molding or strip 5, secured across the front of the casing A by screws 6. This screen E is preferably provided with anysuitable advertisement on the face, as shown, and screens bear- IOO ing different advertisements can be inserted from time to time without interference with the interior of the device simply by the removal of the screws (i.

livoted in the sides of the casing A and extending across the same at or near the eentcr is a rod 7, `n'ovided at one end, on the exterior et the easing A, with a suitable handle S, by which the same may be partially ro tated, and secured upon this rod 7 by means of screws 9 is the tilting bottom B of the device, the rear edge of which bottom, when the same is horizontal, rests upon a support 10 and the front of which is held in place against accidental displacement, at the same time, by a spring-catch 11 of such strength that pressure upon the handle S of the rod may force the tilting bottom into the vertical position shown iu dotted lines in Fig. 2, while the impact of the coins or counters used as they fall upon the bottom will not be sufiicient to disen gage such spring-catch.

Located just below the tilting bottom, leaving sufiicient space below such bottom to allow the same to be freely tilted into the vertical position shown in dotted lines in said Fig. 2, is the supplementary bott-om or coinretaining device G, which consists, preferably, of two thin pieces of wood or metal 12, secured to the front and rear of the casing A and inclined downward toward the center at an angle, each ending in a downwardly-extending vertical iiange 13, Fig. 2, between which is the coin-slit la, which extends the entire width of the easing A through the eenter of the bottom G, and by this arrangement the guards 13 ou each side of the slit 14 will, ou the inversion of the easing A, prevent the shaking of the coins in the receptacle F through the slet 11 onto or by the tilting bottom B.

The tilting bottom B is marked off on top into a plurality of divisions of any desired form and size, which divisions are provided with suitable inscriptions, devices, or numbers or with an inscription, device, and number upon each or with certain divisions left wholly er partly blank, as may be desired, and such divisions may be of any desired number, shape, or arrangement and of any desired marking or design.

One good method of marking which I prefer is that shown in Fig. 3, which shows the marking used upon the tilting` bottom B of the simplest form et my improved game apparatus, in which the mirror or refiector D and the screen E are omitted and the bottom l is in direct view of the operator of themachine. In this form of division said bottom B is divided by a longitudinal central line and by cross-lines into eight square divisions, each of which is provided with a different suitable inscription, said divisions being also numbered from 1 to S. Located at the center longitudinally of the bottom and at each end are two round divisions N, not numbered, but provided with suitable inscriptions, and in the exact center of the tilting bottom is a small square M, provided with a suitable inscription and with a number larger than the number upon any other of the divisions of the bottom, and the divisions 1I and H are preferably of such size that the coin or counter of the size to be used, preferably, for the operation of the machine will exactly cover the same when lying [lat thereon. The inscriptions upon the various divisions are preferably of a prophetic or fortune-telling character, as shown.

In the type ot` the device in which the mirror or reflector D and as a consequence the screen E also are used, only the reflection of the design, numbering, and inscription on the bottom B being seen, such designs, inscriptions, or numbers are of necessity reversed, as shown in Fig. 4, as only in this form can the reflection thereof in the mirror I) be easily read, and the tilting of the mirror D forward at the top, as shown in Fig. 2, is for the purpose ot' bringing the image of this reversed image more fully into view. It desired, the divisions of the bottom I3 may have botlrdirect and reversed inscriptions, designs, and numbers upon them, and, the screen E being omitted, both the direct inscription, design, or number and the reiiection of the reversed design, number, or inscription in the mirror D be viewed at the same time.

In the top of the casing A, preferably at the center thereof, as shown, is the coin or counter receiving slotted conduit II, which conduit is preferably of the sin nous or zigzag form shown in Fig. 2 in order to prevent burglarious tampering with said machine by the insertion through said slot ot tools of any form, and hinged to the top of the casing A, adjacent to the coin or counter conduit, is a flap I, preferably of metal, and weighted at 15, so as to normally hang as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but of such construction as to instantl y dropinto the position shown in dott-ed lines in Fig. 2 upon the inversion of the casing A, so as to close the conduit II and prevent the coins which may be upon the bottom B from being shaken out through such conduit. If desired, however, in place of this weighted flap I, such conduit may be extended an inch or two within the casing A for the same purpose and the iap I be omitted.

Located below the coin-conduit II, so that coins passing through said conduit will fall against the saine, is a coin or counter detlector C, preferably in the form of a cone or a pyramid, supported point upward immediately below the conduit II, with the centers ofthe coinconduit and the apex of the pyramid or cone in line with one another. This coin or counter deiiector C may be supported in place in any desired manner, but is preferablysecured at the base to a thin strip of wood er metal 1G, extending longitudinally of the casing A, which strip is provided at the ends with supporting chains or cords 17, secured to the top of the casing, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and

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when intended to be used as a public coinactuated machine any suitable advertisement may be painted or printed upon the strip 16.

To operate the apparatus, acoin orcounter of any suitable size small enough to pass through the conduit II is dropped into the same at 18, and falling through such slot drops upon the deflector C and by coming in contact therewith, according to the angle of incidence, is fortuitously directed in one direction or another and comes to rest at last upon some one of the marked divisions of the tilting bottom B. Then used by one person in this manner, the device becomes a simple fortune-telling orprophetic device, the i-n.

scription upon the division of the bottom B upon which the coin rests being supposed to be the answer to the question asked of the machine; When used as a game apparatus to be operated by two or more persons, after the coin or counter inserted by the first person has come to rest upon the bottom B, the other person or persons insert coins or counters in like manner, and the person whose coin or counter falls upon the division bearing the largest number wins the game. Then by turning the handle 8 of the rod 7 thetilting bottom B is tilted into the vertical position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, and the coins or counters drop by gravity down onto the inclined bottom G and thence through the coin-slit I4 into the receptacle F, and the tilting bottom B being returned to the position shown in full lines until the catch ll springs into place, so as to hold the same firmly in position, the apparatus .will again be in position ready to be operated, as before described. This operation can of course be repeated indefinitely.

lVhen used as a public coin-machine, the slot of the conduit H is made large enough to receive a silver quarter, and of course, therefore, large enough to receive any coin of whatever denomination of less size, and one great advantage of this machine therefore is that, unlike the coin-slot machines now in use, which can only be operated with coins of one denomination, this machine can be operated with coins of many different sizes and denominations. Y

It is evident that many changes in the construction, combination, and arrangement of the several parts of my improved game apparatus other than those mentioned herein may be made without departing from the scope of my invention, and I do not intend to limit myself to any particular form of construction. thereof; but,

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same may be performed, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a casing A, of a conduit through which coins or counters may be introduced into the casing, a board or bottom provided with marked divisions for receiving the coins `or counters, means for preventing tilting or displacement of the board or bottom by the impact or weight of the coins or counters, and means for moving the marked board or bottom from the outside of the casing, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a casing A, of a conduit through which coins or counters may be introduced into the casing, a board or bottom provided with marked divisions below the coin or counter conduit, means for preventing tilting oixdisplacement of the board or bottom by the impact or weight of the coins or counters, means for moving the marked board or bottom from the outside of the casing, and a deflector located between the conduit and the marked board or bottom, substantially as shown and described.

3.' In a machine of the class described, the combination with a casing A, of a conduit through which coins or counters may be introduced int-o the casing, a board or bottom provided with marked divisionslocated below the outlet of the coin or counter conduit. means for preventing tilting or displacement of the board or bottom by the impact or weight of the coins or counters, means for moving the marked board or bottom from the outside of the casing, and a deflector C consisting of 'a cone supported apex upward beneath the board or bottom by the impact or weight of.-

the coins or counters, and means for moving the marked board or-bottom from the outside .of the casing, and a coin or counter receptacle below the dumping bottom, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a casing A, of a coin or counter conduit on the top of the casing, a dumping bottom provided with marked divisions located below the outlet of the coinconduit, means for preventing tilting or displacement of the board or bottom by the impact or weight of the coins or counters, means for moving the marked board or bottom from the outside of the casing, a coin-deiiector located between the outlet of the coin-conduit and the dumping bottom, and a receptacle for the coins or counters located below the dumping bottom, substantially as shown and described.

' 6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a casing A, of a sinuous slotted coin or counter conduit H at the top thereof, and a dumping bottom B provided IOO IOS

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with marked divisions, means for preventing tilting or displacement of the board or bottom by the impact or Weight of the coins or counters, and means for moving the marked board or bottom from the outside of the casing, substantially as shown and described.

'7. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a casing A, of a coin or counter conduit II, a dumping bottom B provided with marked divisions, and a mirror D at the back of the casing, substantially as shown and described.

S. In a machine of the class described, the combination With a casing A, of a coin or counter conduit II, a dumping bottom I3 provided With marked divisions, a mirror D at the back of the casing A, a transparent front for the easing A, and a sereenE for hiding the bottom B from direct View, substantially as shown and described.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a casing A, of a coin or counter conduit, a dumping bottom B provided with a plurality of divisions bearing reversed markings,designs,inscriptions or numbers, a mirror D at ,the baekof the easing A, and ascreen E for hiding the bottom B from direct View, substantially as shown and dei scribed.

lO. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a easing A, of a conduit through which the coins or counters may be introduced into the casing, a bottom provided with marked divisions, means for preventing tilting ordisplacemeut of the board or bottom by the impact or Weight of the coins or counters, means for moving the marked board or bottom from the outside of the casing, and a mirror D at the back of the casing extending upward and forward from the bottom, substantially as shown and described.

l1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a casing A, of a coin-conduit through which coins or counters may be introduced into the easing, adumping bottom B provided with marked divisions, a mirror D at the rear of the casing, a transparent front 2 at the front of the casing, a supplementary transparent front 4f extending upward over a portion of the transparent front 2 and a removable screen E located behind the transparent front 4 and screening the dumping bottom from View, substantially as shown and described.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a casing A, of a conduit through which Coins or counters may be introduced into the easing, a bottom provided with marked divisions, means for preventing tilting or displacement of the board or bottom by the impact or weight of the coins or counters, means for moving the marked board or bottom from heoutside of the casing, and a deiector for l'ortuitously directing the coins or counters to different parts of the bottom so as to be struck by the coins or counters passed through the conduit and consisting of a cone-shaped piece Cseeured at the base to a thin strip 1G, substantially as shown and described.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a casing A, of a conduit through which coins or counters may be introduced into thecasing, abottom provided with the divisions l, 2, 3, 4, 5, G, 7 and Sthe middle smaller square division M and the two round end divisions N, and means for preventing tilting or displacement of the board or bottom by the impact or weight of the coins or counters, and means for moving the marked board or bottom from the outside of the casing, substantially as shown and described.

Signed at the city and county of New York, in the State of New York, this 21st day of January, A. D. 1896.

FRANK NORTON ARCHER.

\Vitn esses:

ELIZABETH DI'rCHE'rT, STEPHEN D. DrrcHE'rT. 

